Civil society organisations have ordered one Chief Ethelbert Ugwu to apologise to Governor Hope Uzodimma and the entire people of Imo State for allegedly inciting violence in a community in the state.
The Youth and Civil Society Coalition for Development frowned at Ugwu’s actions which it said would have led to total instability in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, but for the swift intervention of community leaders.
In a statement issued by the deputy national president, Comrade Martin Igwe, the Youth and Civil Society Coalition for Development said Mr Ugwu had concocted a misinformation that would have led the Nigerian military and other security agencies to descend on the said community in Ahiazu Mbaise, even as many inhabitants have already started to desert their homes for fear of military invasion.
According to the statement, “Youth and Civil Society Coalition for Development has called on Mr. Ethelbert Ugwu to apologise to His Excellency Senator Hope Uzordima, the executive governor of Imo State, within 72hrs for inciting violence, misinforming the security agencies that the Indigenous People of Baifra, IPOB, is mobilising with force to come and bury one of their own in one of the communities in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area in Imo State. A false information which by the dexterity and professionalism exhibited by the security agencies and with intervention of God and community leaders, the community could have been destroyed by security, no thanks to the sinister intention of Ethelbert Ugwu.
“We hereby call for immediate probe of this security misinformation by Defence Headquarters. This act could have brought a face-off between the local community and the security agencies.
“This matter must be looked into, the perpetrators punished in line with dictate of Nigerian Law to deter others in different uniforms who never meant well for peaceful Imo State.
“Finally, we pass a vote of confidence in the Nigerian Police, Tiger Base Command and other security agencies who never acted with this misinformation.
“The security, peace and development of Imo State is a collective responsibility, hence everybody must work together to realise a peaceful Imo and Nigeria as a whole.”
